MORE than 1,000 residents and would-be customers have been given a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the £15million Tameside Wellness Centre – Denton before it officially opened its doors to the public on Monday, March 2.
Active Tameside were taken aback by the scale of the interest after advertising the tours, which began on February 10 and will run until Saturday, February 29, on social media.
Correspondent editor Tony Bugby joined one of the tours of the flagship facility, which will be managed by Aidan Gilmore, to gauge the reaction.
The tours were held at 45-minute intervals throughout the day in the build up to the opening and ours was conducted by Active Tameside’s Elliot Fletcher.
In reception, there are two fast-track kiosks for bookings which frees space by preventing queueing with access activated by fingerprints.
The tour began at the state-of-the-art swimming pool which measures 25 by 17 metres and which has room for 150 spectators. It has stairs into the pool for those who have difficulty using ladders.
There is an adjoining small pool which has a hi-tech adjustable floor and where most of the lessons, aqua-fit and water circuit classes will take place.
We then had a peek at the impressive mixed changing facilities which has single, double and family cubicles.
Suzie Graham, whose five-year-old son Harry Silcock has lessons at Denton Pool, said: “When I first walked in and saw the pools they looked awesome compared to the old one.
“It is an amazing place and Harry is looking forward to having his lessons here.”
It was then off to the group exercise studio where Zumba, pilates, yoga, core and hit workouts, aerobics, circuit training, body pump, spin, family yoga and family circuit sessions are held.
Classes are available at £5 a time and free to members with booking taken online or at the centre.
The fitness suite, which also includes a spa area including a sauna and steam room, is impressively equipped and adjoining it is an outdoor fitness zone at first floor level which includes a running track and sensory garden.
Pensioner Neville Walton, from Godley and a member at Active Hyde, came along to view the new centre and was hugely impressed by the building and its gym facilities.
Though the building closes at 11pm, gym members will be able to gain access 24/7 through a special entrance.
Elsewhere there is a 10-lane Qubica bowling alley along with a soft play area and creche, community and meeting rooms with free wi-fi. They include the Worthington Suite which is ideal for meetings and conferences.
Elliot added visitors generally have been “really impressed with the size of the building, the equipment and the accessibility”.